shootermcbob

Same as the others, glad you are ok. Good luck going forward for you, your son, and the rest of your family.

Mike has done both rod and reel work for me...both with outstanding results.

I saw a video on youtube where a fellow who was a dropshot fisherman trimmed a "french fry" type of bait when the bite was tough. It was not really a complicated modification, but he said it was effective. All he did was split one end of the french fry twice...making 4 separate "tentacles". I have not had the chance to try it, but it might help somebody with warm weather.

Good tips...Thanks to all. Keep them coming please.

Outstanding. Very touching. Thanks for posting.

Ok, time to give up the "secrets"...what lure modifications do you guys perform? about the only one that I do is I trim the legs of the rage toad when the water is very calm.

Big fan of megastrike attractant here as well.

Rage Toad...when water is calm I trim part of the legs off so it is more subtle.

I think my biggest weakness is ...besides casting too big a shadow...being stuck on the bank. I am anxious to get a boat, get a humminbird, and learn to use to find structure and cover, find fish, see what the depths are, know what the water temp is in different areas.

I tend to use soft plastic swimbaits most. Brands I have had the most success with so far is ...by far...Lake fork live magic shad in 3.5 and 4.5 inch versions I also have had success with the live magic shad on spinnerbaits w/out the skirt, on chatterbaits with skirt still attached, and on swim jigs. Next I have had some success with bass magic/strike king shadalicious paddletails....fished the same ways as above, but not with same success. As far as Hardbody...I have had some luck with the strike king sexy swimmer and the sebile magic swimmer. I have a couple of cabelas knock-off of the spro bbz and while they swim and look awesome, I have never caught anything on them. I have purchased some of the roboworm EZ shad for next season, but have no experience with them as to date. Anyone else have rigging secrets or tips? Anyone else fish them differently than what has been mentioned? Anyone do any "modifications" to any swimbaits that would help?

Same as most above, I fish many different plastics. I enjoy trying new lures and brands of both hard an soft baits. I use strike king including rage products, zoom, netbait, culprit, big bite baits, kalins, Gander Mountain brand, and others.

That is...if the fishing reports are to be believed???? I have heard rumors that some fishermen....not me of course....but some fishermen who may "exaggerate" the details of their adventures...just saying.

I fish during the night time hours as well....and I think I have heard Bigfoot several nights. I caught a slight glimpse of him only once...he was wearing a strike king hat, using a St. Croix spinning rod with a Shimano Stradic reel, and it looked like a roboworm on a dropshot rig. Also, I have the unique ability to exaggerate!

I placed an order as well, but for the blind date jigs. I heard a rumor that they were "guaranteed" to catch fish???? Actually, I read on the website that they are NOT guaranteed, but after all the rave reviews, I had to try some for myself.

Anyone else have experience with the optimum baby line thru swimbaits? They are intriguing to me, but would like to hear more? Also, do you guys throw one color mostly, or do you try to "match the hatch" ?

I still venture out...but I really use this time to try different lures, combinations, lure modifications, etc that I garner from places like this website. If I catch a fish...it is just an added extra. I do not really want to stand and drag a jig around. I have explored with some different ways to rig an inline spinner, and have fished a couple different drop shot baits...just experimenting

Which swimbaits do you guys prefer? How do rig them? How and where do you fish them? Does anyone have experience with optimum baby line thru swimbaits? Thanks in advance for the help, ideas, and suggestions.

You're welcome.

Don't know the name of it, but I use this knot for both flourocarbon and mono. It is very easy to tie as well.

a black 5/8 ounce jitterbug is fantastic in low light to dark conditions. I also use several other types like the buzzbait, lucky craft kelly J, wake baits from strike king and lucky craft, walking baits, poppers, and frogs. I tend to throw more than one kind at most every area, at all times of the day. I have caught fish morning, noon, and night with everything but the popper. I have also had some success with swimbaits like the strike king sexy swimmer or sebile magic swimmer retrieved fast enough to keep it right on surface of the water.

I use the advanced Angler bags. They are high quality and tough as nails. Had mine 4+ years now, and no issues at all.

I use two different pairs. If I am fishing spinning gear, I use a pair of rag wool glo-mitts. they are very warm, and stay warm even when they get damp. If i am fishing with baitcasters, I have a pair of cabelas dry-plus silent suede gloves.

Excellent report Goose. I always enjoy reading your reports. Thanks for taking the time.

They have been the class of D3 for some time, They do get a superior athlete now and again...but I don't they are loaded with athletes...just guys who love to play football. For several years in the 90's, they were simply better than everyone else. Not so in the 2000's, especially in the playoffs. Several other teams have become much more competitive with them... Wisconsin-Whitewater had even won 4 of the last 5 against Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl...which I say is just blasphemy! I did find it amazing they won the semifinal game against Mary-Hardin Baylor even after turning the ball over five times. I don't think they win because they have so many more better football players, I think they win because of their coach, and they believe they will win because he is there.

Watched the game (Stagg Bowl- Division III Championship game) last night. It was Mount Union's 16th time to the championship game in the last 20 years. They have won 11 championships. They have been to the last 8 Stagg Bowls. Their head coach has a record of 332-24-3 in 27 seasons....they average less than one loss PER YEAR under his guidance. That is just mind boggling. Anyone else enjoy the game?